| 09 April 2010
I always knew this day would come. Not that knowing has made it any easier.What’s that?
No, honestly, it’s nothing that bad. I promise.
Nobody died. I didn’t get fired from my job, especially considering, you know, that I don’t have a real job. My dog didn’t get hit by a bus, my grandma didn’t wander into oncoming traffic, and I wasn’t forced at gunpoint to watch an episode of The Big Bang Theory. Like I said, it’s nothing that bad.
It’s just that, well, college basketball season is done, and I’m kind of bummed out. Ok, really bummed out.
You see, when I made the commitment back in August to start writing every day, and updating this site you’re reading right now three or four times a week, I knew at the time that college football and college basketball would be my bread and butter. Sure, I might write about the World Series here, or the beginning of the NBA season there, but the two college sports are where my true passion and knowledge lies.
I knew that from right around Labor Day until right around the end of March I’d spend more time on my couch and in front of my computer than I would with friends and family. That I’d spend entirely too many waking hours thinking about Sam Bradford’s shoulder and Coach K’s bleached hair, not to mention wondering if Bobby Bowden wore Depends or not. Then again, I’d be getting paid to write about sports, and what more could a guy ask for?
As for the two sports themselves, interestingly, I love each for completely different reasons.
I hardly grew up a college football fan, but instead grew into one when I began playing football myself in my early teens. After spending a few years in pads and increasing my understanding of the game, the sport quickly turned into my favorite.
When it comes to college football, I love everything about it.
I love the teams, the rivalries and the conferences. I love the larger than life coaches, from Joe Paterno, who might need five minutes to turn on a computer, to Les Miles, who can turn off his fan base in half that time. I love that Lane Kiffin still needles Urban Meyer, even though they’re on opposite coasts now (Did anyone else hear Kiffin say that he “Gave up making fun of Urban Meyer for Lent.”Man I love that guy).
I love the zaniness of the people in SEC country, who tell me I’m a genius when I pick their team, only to e-mail me a week later and call me an idiot when I pick against them. I love that come fall, I can count on Michigan State to go 7-5 no matter how many times they change their coach, and can count on Illinois to go 5-7 because they refuse to change theirs. I love that Nick Saban’s always pissed off, no matter how well his team is playing. I love knowing that Florida and Tennessee are on the schedule every September (I lied my way out of wedding last year to watch) and Ohio State and Michigan are on it every November.
Mostly though, I love the perfect imperfection of the sport. I love that every week is can’t miss, must see TV, and that if your team loses they might not get a shot at a National Championship. I love that college football has the best regular season in all of sports, even if the postseason needs some changes.
As for college basketball, I love that too, but for completely different reasons.
I grew up in Connecticut, one of the few places that the sport still really matters. I spent my younger years rooting for Ray Allen and Richard Hamilton, while at the same time rooting against Elton Brand, Shane Battier and anyone else who dared put on a Duke, Syracuse or Villanova uniform.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become much like the rest of America, only casually browsing the sport until after the Super Bowl, the way you might browse over the salad bar at a buffet. Whereas, during college football season I basically watch every single Alabama, Florida and USC game, during college basketball season, I fill my plate with a little Texas here, some Kentucky there, with some UCLA for dessert. Only if there’s still room on my plate of course.
And if college football has the best regular season, college basketball has the best postseason, period. Even if the NCAA Tournament expands to 96 teams (Which it will), I don’t care, March Madness is still great. And it will be great next year too. Even if we’re subjected to the 14th best team from the Big East playing the 10th best team from the ACC on the first day of the tournament.
But now, now it’s all over. In January college football gave way to college basketball, and now college basketball is giving way to…emptiness.
People talk about seasonal depression during especially cold winters, but let me tell you, every year right around this time I get seasonal sports depression.
This Saturday coming up will the first one in which I don’t have a date with my couch, remote and TV, since the end of August. Seriously, what the hell am I going to do? What do normal people do on the weekends? Go to the mall? Exercise? Spend time with family? That doesn’t sound like much fun to me.
(Random side note: The single most underrated aspect of writing about sports for a living is that you always have an excuse to get out of commitments on the weekend. After all, you’re “working.” You've got no idea how many times I’ve said stuff like this over the last seven months:
“Hey dad, sorry I can’t make that big family dinner this weekend, but there’s a game on. I can’t miss it for work.”
“Wait, your birthday is this weekend? Damn. No, buddy I’m sorry, but I just can’t make it. Don’t get me wrong, going to that crappy dive bar with overpriced and watered down drinks sounds great, it really does. But I’ve got work. Tell that bartender with the neck tattoo I say hi though!”
“What’s that grandma? I can barely hear you. You’re what? You’re in the hospital? I’m sorry I’m at work and my connection is awful. Call you tomorrow!”)
Now after all that, don’t get me wrong, I do like the other sports. Just don’t love them.
As I’ve told you all many times before, I like baseball. I spent my whole life playing it, have done some broadcasting, and it’s the sport that I understand better than all others. I just don’t love watching it on TV or analyzing it with friends. Baseball is played every day, meaning that even when I do get a strong opinion on something, by the time I think things through, verbalize them, and put it all on paper, the idea is usually stale and outdated.
I also like golf, but don’t see myself writing about it much, if at all. The truth is, nobody cares about golf unless you’re talking about Tiger Woods. And then when you do write about him, people get mad because “That’s all anyone ever talks about.” I like to call it “The Tiger and the egg situation.” I don’t know which came first, but it always ends up messy.
I’d love to write about tennis, but doubt anyone would care unless I was writing about Wimbledon or the U.S. Open. Boxing and MMA have 2-3 fights the whole year worth paying attention to. And please don’t get me started on NASCAR or the WNBA. There are only so many hours in my day, and only so many days in my life before I take my permanent dirt nap. I’m not wasting any of them on either of those things.
So with that, I’m leaving it up to you, my readers.
I’ve got a few ideas for the next few months, some stuff I want to cover on the NBA playoffs and draft, a few spring football things (Hopefully within the next week or two) and some cool baseball road trips that I plan on documenting.
But other than that, the ball is in your court. I’ve gotten to know most of you within the last year or so, and you’ve been with me for this entire ride. You’ve been my sounding board and told me what works and what’s garbage. And I love each and every one of you for that.
And because of that, I want to hear from you over these next few months. Hear from you by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Facebook and Twitter. Hear from you by fax and carrier pigeon. I don’t care. But I want to hear from you, on what you want to hear from me. What should I be writing about? What am I not focusing enough of my time on? Why am I being so lazy? If there’s something on your sports agenda, don’t be afraid to put it on mine too.
So while I’ve got to admit that I’ve been in a daze these last few days, I know that you’ll help me out of it. It’s time for me to shower and shave, and get out of my seasonal sports depression. And I’m glad you’re on my side.
Phew, I’m glad I got that off my chest.
On a different note, how many days until the first week of football again?
(Love the article? Hate it? Let Aaron know by commenting below, or e-mailing him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Also, to hear Aaron's thoughts on all things sports, be sure to follow him on Twitter @Aaron_Torres and Facebook.com/aarontorressports)
